Texas Lottery Commission’s executive director resigned on Monday
The Texas Lottery Commission’s executive director, Ryan Mindell, has resigned amidst ongoing investigations into the integrity of lottery prizes and the introduction of courier companies that facilitate online ticket purchases. This comes as Gov. Greg Abbott and state Attorney General Ken Paxton have ordered probes into these matters.
Lottery couriers are third-party services that allow customers to order lottery tickets online. These couriers then purchase the tickets in person from licensed retailers on behalf of the customers, sending scanned images of the tickets and charging a fee for their services. The companies and lottery officials have denied any wrongdoing, but state lawmakers are considering various measures to address these concerns, including potentially shutting down the agency.
Governor Abbott has directed the Texas Rangers to investigate two significant winning tickets, one worth $83 million in Austin and another worth $95 million in Colleyville. The Coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers has accused Mindell of unfairly targeting courier companies for the agency’s own issues.
In response to Mindell’s resignation, Sergio Rey, the former CFO of the Texas Lottery Commission, has been appointed as the acting deputy executive director. The Commission will begin the process of selecting a new executive director at its next meeting on April 29.
The departure of Mindell presents an opportunity to reevaluate the agency’s decisions regarding lottery couriers and rebuild trust with these companies. The Coalition of Texas Lottery Couriers hopes for a fresh start and improved collaboration with the Texas Lottery Commission moving forward.
It is essential to address these concerns to ensure the trust and integrity of the state lottery system. The investigations and changes being considered will play a crucial role in maintaining transparency and fairness in the Texas Lottery.
